Injection molding machine base

Abstract

An injection molding machine base has a generally rectangular form having as an integral part thereof a hydraulic return line formed within the base. The return line is straight, has clean-out openings at each end, and no obstructions therein whereby removal of closures at each end exposes the entire cross-section for cleaning. Hydraulic equipment on the machine exhausts directly into this maze. One end of the base has a connection to the hydraulic reservoir for the machine.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A machine base for a hydraulic injection molding machine for molding plastic and resin material in a multiple part mold comprising a generally rectangular body to be placed on a horizontal support surface, the sides of said rectangular body including a pair of opposed long side members connected together adjacent their ends by opposed short end members;   a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart mounting pads supported from and above said body for supporting machine elements thereon such as means to plasticate and inject plastic into a mold cavity, a fixed mold platen to receive part of a mold, and a fixed rear platen for supporting hydraulic clamping means;   one of the long side members of said rectangular body being a hollow elongated conduit defined by substantially axially straight walls;   a pair of removable closures each one sealably mounted on a respective end of said conduit and being of a size to seal off the entire cross section of said conduit and thus to expose said cross section for cleaning when removed;   an exit port through a conduit wall near one end of said conduit;   at least one inlet port through said conduit wall located between said exit port and at the other end of said conduit;   the passageway defined by said conduit being substantially the same cross section throughout the length thereof.   
     
     
       2. In combination with the injection and mold support components of a hydraulic injection molding machine assembled on a machine base that has a generally rectangular body intended to be placed on a horizontal support surface, the sides of said rectangular body including a pair of opposed long side members connected together adjacent their ends by opposed short end members, a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart mounting pads on the uppermost side of said machine base body for supporting said components which include at one end of the body a means to plasticate and inject into a mold cavity, a fixed rear platen near the opposite end for supporting a hydraulic mold clamping means, a fixed mold platen to support part of a mold at a position between said means to plasticate and said rear platen, and a movable platen driven by said clamping means between said fixed and rear platens, a hydraulic pump means at that end of said machine base adjacent said fixed rear platen, a hydraulic oil cooler on said base adjacent said means to plasticate with a hydraulic oil reservoir supported at that end of said machine base adjacent and generally above said fixed rear platen, and conduit means connecting in series said pump means to plasticate and oil cooler; the improvement comprising one of the long side members of said rectangular body being a hollow elongated conduit adapted to be placed on a horizontal supporting surface and defined by substantially axially straight walls;   a pair of removable closures each one sealably mounted on a respective end of said conduit and being of a size to seal off the entire cross secton of said conduit and thus to expose said cross section for cleaning when removed;   a return port through said conduit wall near the hydraulic pump end thereof and at least one entry port through said conduit wall located between said return port and the other end of said conduit, the passageway defined by said walls of said conduit being substantially the same cross-section throughout the length thereof;   return lines connected between said entry port and the exhaust portions of said oil cooler and said plasticating means, portions of the hydraulic system; and   a stand pipe connecting said reservoir with said large port in said conduit.